Rockies draft Lamar’s Bumpers

Around this time last year, Lamar shortstop Sam Bumpers was supposed to hear his named called. Lamar pitcher Jonathan Dziedzic did in the 13th round by Kansas City followed by outfield slugger Darian Johnson in the 32nd round with the White Sox.

Those within the Lamar baseball community expected Bumpers, then a junior, to be in the mix. But the junior college transfer from Illinois with a flashy glove and consistent bat was passed over.

Instead of fading in his senior season, Bumpers overcame some early injuries to put together a 28-game hit streak (a school record), bat .427 in Southland Conference games (.361 overall), earn Southland Hitter of the Year and be the only player from the conference to earn Louisville Slugger All-American Honors.

That resume was too much for the Colorado Rockies to pass up on Sunday, taking Bumpers in the 22nd round with the 653rd overall pick. Colorado’s minor league affiliates include Single-A Asheville in North Carolina (named the Tourists) and a rookie league team in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Bumpers will hope to mimic the success of Dziedzic, who has a 3.00 earned run average in 11 starts with Single-A Wilmington with 56 strikeouts to 15 walks.